Plattform Platform	Reise-Nr. Cruise-No.	Zeitraum Period	Projekt Project	Arbeitsgebiet Working area
Walther Herwig III	332	24.03.2010 - 27.04.2010	WGMEGS	North Atlantic Ocean Celtic Sea Bay of Biscay

Fahrtleiter Chief Scientist	Institut Institute	Auslaufhafen Port of departure	Einlaufhafen Port of return	Stationskarte Station map	Schiffsroute Trackchart
Ulleweit Jens	Johann Heinrich von Thunen-Institut, Bundesforschungsinstitut fur Landliche Raume, Wald und Fischerei	Bremerhaven	Bremerhaven

Ziel der Reise / Objectives of Cruise:

The survey forms a part of an ICES-co-ordinated international study in the Eastern North Atlantic conducted during the first half of 2010. This investigation takes place trienially since the late seventies and is organised by the ICES Working Group WGMEGS. The main objective of this series of individual cruises from January until August is to produce both an index and a direct estimate of the biomass of the the north east Atlantic mackerel stock and the southern and western horse mackerel stocks. This survey is the only source providing fishery independent information of these stocks. The method is to quantify the freshly spawned eggs in the water column on the spawning grounds on the one hand. This is done by using a plankton sampler with an online probe. On the other hand the fecundity of the females must also be determined. This is done by sampling sufficient numbers of gonads by trawling. In 2010 a total of 16 individual cruises will be carried out, with the contribution of 10 European institutes. The cruise 332 of the "Walther Herwig III" on the mackerel and horse mackerel stocks is a contribution to the international efforts to assess and manage these stocks.

Messungen / Measurements